Entertainment

Ninja halts trial

NINJAMAN'S murder trial came to an abrupt end yesterday after the dancehall deejay began complaining of chest pains and difficulty in breathing.

“He was sent to a doctor. However, it appears he's gonna be admitted in hospital for observation,” Valrie Neita-Robertson, the deejay's attorney, told the Jamaica Observer yesterday. “He was complaining of chest pains and difficulty breathing.”

The high-profile attorney-at-law said the session, which was held in camera at the Supreme Court in downtown Kingston, went up until noon.

“He wanted me to go,” said Neita-Robertson.

She said she will, however, have to wait until Monday to find out if the case will resume.

Ninjaman, whose given name is Desmond Ballentine, along with his son Jahneil, is charged with the March 2009 murder of Ricardo Johnson on Marl Road in Kingston. He was granted bail in 2012.

The dancehall deejay was taken into custody two weeks ago after his bail was revoked by High Court judge, Justice Martin Gayle, who ordered the murder trial to begin immediately. The case had seen 17 trial dates and 23 mentions.

The case was recently transferred to a special court to handle cases on the books for more than five years.

Born in St Mary, Ninjaman came to prominence in the 1980s. He is known for songs including Artical Don, Border Clash, and Cover Me featuring Tinga Stewart.

The deejay also starred in the local, action movie Third World Cop (1999).

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